Patent GB-1422656-A (GB)
Title: Transferring workpieces of limp material
IPC: B65H31/30
Filed: 1973-03-21
Abstract: 1422656 Laying fabrics SAMCO-STRONG Ltd 21 March 1973 [22 March 1972] 13567/73 Heading D1S Apparatus for forming a stack S of workpieces W of limp material on a platform 12 comprises workpiece gripping means 30 movable between a first, workpiece-engaging, position, full line position in Fig. 1, and a second, workpiece-depositing, position, overlying the platform 12, and wiper means 22 movable relative to the means 30, the arrangement being such that, as the means 30, with a workpiece W engaged thereby, moves from its first to its second position, the means 22 is caused to move relative thereto thus to effect a wiping action on the workpiece W to ensure that it is in an outspread condition for depositing on the platform 12.  As shown, the means 22, comprising a wiper blade, is supported at opposite ends by levers 18 swingable about the axis of a shaft 14. An open-sided hood 24 guards the blade 22 in the vertical position thereof. The means 30 comprises high-friction elements 32, e.g. card cloth units, carried by a plate 34 supported by a frame 36 swingable about the axis of pins 50 carried by side plates 52 of the apparatus frame 10. A rod 60 is secured to the blade 22 and is longitudinally slidable in aligned bearing blocks 64 in the frame 36. In operation, the arrival over the hood 24 of a workpiece W is detected by photo-electric sensing means 26. Fluid under pressure is admitted to a double-acting piston-and-cylinder 54 to cause the levers 18, and thus the blade 22, to swing about the axis of the shaft 14 and, through the blade 22, to cause the means 30 to move between its first and second positions. Simultaneously, the means 30 and the blade 22 move relative to one another so that the elements 132 grip the marginal portion of the workpiece against slippage whilst the blade 22 unfurls the workpiece. Upon return of the blade 22 and the means 30, the workpiece W is released and deposited on the stack 5. A cushioning arrangement is provided to decelerate the means 30 as it approaches either one of the first and second positions and comprises two stop members 74, 76 cooperable with an abutment 78 on a pin 80 secured in one of the levers 18. The members 74, 76 are mounted on an extension 72 of a piston rod 68 of a double-acting piston-and-cylinder 66, the cylinder having a diameter smaller than that of the cylinder 54. Fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 66 when fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 54. Fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 66 when fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 54 and builds up therein so that, when the abutment 78 moves to engage one of the members 74, 76, the piston rod 68, and thus the means 30 and the blade 22, meet with yieldable but increasing resistance. Counting means comprises a first counter (110), Fig. 3 (not shown) to be actuated upon a pre-set lower number of workpieces W being stacked and a second counter (112) to be actuated when a larger pre-set number has been stacked. When the counter (112) is actuated, a pusher blade 106 is moved to the right of Fig. 1 by a double-acting piston-andcylinder 102 to remove the stack S from the platform 12. Electrical and pneumatic circuits for the operation of the apparatus are described, Figs. 3 and 4 (both not shown).